Category: Accidental Immortal Serialisation

There are fates worse than death…

#amwriting #books

Welcome to the serialisation of Accidental Immortal. Chapters will be published four times a week so the serialisation will be completed at (roughly) the same time as on Wattpad, if not a little sooner!

If you would like to start from the beginning, please head over to chapter one. There is also a contents list at the bottom of each post.

–Ceri Clark

Chapter 23 – Invisibility

Illyara awoke to bright sunlight and the sound of constant heavy footsteps beside her. Men in simple coarse clothing, their shirts and trousers worn with use, were running up and down the steps carrying boxes and jars inches from her. What was happening? Where was she?

Before she could collect her thoughts, a box clattered past her, crashing down each step with a loud thwack. White cloth spilled on the dusty mud. The unexpected sound made her jump and she noticed the ripped remnants of her skirt above her knees. She couldn’t be more noticeable if she tried. If anyone saw her dressed like this… The thought trailed into nothing as she scurried to the shadows of the nearest pillar. One of the men standing on the street below was already looking her way. He opened his mouth as if in slow motion to shout as her mind froze. It only lasted for a moment and her training kicked in. She concentrated on the man. She took in his appearance, his black hair, dark eyes and full lips. She noticed a scar running down his arm leading to a tattoo that she recognised was of the Eied caste. How far down the social ranks had this man fallen, she thought with sudden pity. She clamped down on her emotions as she saw him raise his arm to point at her. Holding down the panic, she clenched her fists against the satin cloth of her dress as she imagined his mind as a living flame. It was one thing to use the gift in the desert when there was no danger but… She again lost track of her thought as she imagined the flame twisting into a spiral away from her. She held her breath for a moment. Had it worked? Was she invisible again? But his brow was furrowing and he was still looking directly at her. She closed her eyes and focussed on the flame with all her strength. She had to consolidate the connection. It was harder to bond to start with but if she could just get it going she could let her subconscious continue it. Below her, she heard his companion shouting at the man, and she opened her eyes to see him gesticulating at the remains of the box. The Eied man looked at her again and she twisted the flame once more. He did a double-take in Illyara’s direction but loud shouting from above them made him grab the contents and stuff them in the box. The other man nodded to the side impatiently and they moved off. Illyara sighed, letting her shoulders sag as she pressed her back to the wall enclosing the edge of the steps. This was the longest she had ever been invisible. How long could she keep it up?

As she watched more men take boxes down the stairs beside her, it all came flooding back. Lynsey had been taken. She looked back at the doors of the temple – she was in there somewhere.

Illyara waited for a stout workman to pass her and she fell into step behind him. She followed him in, one step behind to avoid anyone coming up behind them. There were men all over the place, some in priests’ robes, others were hired help, packing items in boxes and transporting them outside. Where were they going? She quickly moved to hug an alcove wall. This was clearly a major operation. Food, water, those priests were folding tents? Illyara realised they were carrying the essentials for a desert journey.  Were they going to use Lynsey to find the pyramids?

Illyara slunk along the walls, heading to the back of the Temple. Her bare feet clung to the tiles as she trailed along the edges of the room. Her desert training ensured she made no sound. During the tour, she had noticed that Baserius had been careful to avoid a section of the temple. There must be a reason why he didn’t want them to go that way. Her suspicions were confirmed when she saw Baserius walk towards her and then passed to head down a corridor. She followed. She never would have found it without him. It wasn’t long before a large wooden door barred their way. Illyara hung back while she watched him rap a precise knock on the door. It opened and she craned her neck to look inside but the room was shrouded in darkness. Not a word was spoken. Baserius pulled the door further open and stepped inside. Illyara rushed forward to follow but the door slammed shut behind him.  An unsavoury whiff filled her nostrils. They were keeping something more than Lynsey in there.

Her breath exploded out of her in frustration. What was behind that door? She moved to the corner and sat down to wait. He would come out eventually.

The minutes passed and nothing happened. It gave her time to think about the night before. Arkan had never come. She was sure he had fallen in love with Lynsey. How could he let someone he loved go into such danger? Maybe her father was wrong after all. About love anyway.

The door opened and Baserius strode out pushing Lynsey in front of him. Her friend’s hands were tied behind her back and thick rope encased her small wrists. Illyara studied her friend. She looked drained but apart from that she seemed unhurt. Illyara breathed out gently, thanking any gods that would listen. That girl had a charmed life. How was she going to get out of this one? Illyara decided to follow them to see where they were going. She reached out and touched Lynsey’s arm briefly and Lynsey smiled. She’d got the message; Lynsey knew she was around.

“Is all this just to find the Pyramids?” asked Lynsey.

“We will need provisions, many expeditions have tried and failed over hundreds of years. It pays to be prepared.” Was his answer. So Lynsey was taking them to the Pyramids.

Illyara felt a pang of guilt but she squeezed Lynsey’s hand to let her know that she received the message and left.

Illyara hurried to the main gates. She was incredibly tired, her hands were shaking and her head felt like it was splitting in two. She had never been invisible this long. She needed to find suitable clothes and something to eat before she became too ill to walk back.

Part of the caravan that the priests were putting together was waiting by the city gates. A cluster of red-robed men stood congregated to one side while hired guides were chatting and laughing on the other side of the yelks. None of the tribes would help the temple and these were the best of what was left. She smiled grimly, they would be able to get them safely to the next city along the coast but to find the pyramids they were really relying on Lynsey getting them there.

She noticed how the priests were standing apart, facing away from the other men. Their hoods were lowered so they couldn’t see the guides. Illyara chuckled at their discomfort. They wouldn’t dare forbid the guides from drinking or smoking. They would leave and find another employer. There was plenty of work available. The guides did not have to work for them. Everyone knew the order was running out of money or they wouldn’t ask for such large contributions during their ceremonies. Gone were the days where they could shower money everywhere to get whatever they wanted.

She saw one of the guides bring out a flask. The faint aroma of spirits wafted its way to her. She bet the priests couldn’t stand watching them drink. Still, from the expressions on a couple of their faces, Illyara would have bet money that some of them would have joined the men if they had been alone.

She hurried towards the yelks. More than half were laden high with food, water and clothing. A small pile of provisions that hadn’t been loaded yet were to one side. Illyara walked around to sit cross legged beside the pile out of sight of both priests and guides. No one would be able to see anything unusual. They may not see her but if she wasn’t careful they might be able to see anything she moved. She reached into a leather pack and rummaged around for a moment before pulling out a parcel wrapped in waxed paper. She teased the paper apart to reveal a rich mellow cheese. She took a quick sniff then broke it in two to cram the first and then the second portion into her mouth. A yelk skin containing water was next and she drank greedily, letting the liquid splash over her face and neck when she was finished. Illyara felt better but she was still ravenous and took out more to eat until she was satiated. She lay back against the pile, staring up at the blue sky. There was no bird sound she realised. The camp was making too much noise. Even the vultures, usually so vocal were silent. She propped herself up on one elbow. Come to think of it. She hadn’t heard many birds since she’d entered Ghinari. There were birds in the market she remembered. The city people must be eating them.

Feeling rested, she looked around for a yelk which carried clothing. She made for the nearest animal carrying cloth and carefully stepped up to it. The yelk’s feet shuffled in the loose sand. It could smell her but not see her and she could tell it was nervous. Its huge legs began to move back and forth and it was twisting to find the source of her smell. She crooned in a soft voice and it quieted as she reached up and stroked its coarse fur near its head. Her father would have been able to let the animal see him while staying invisible to everyone in the vicinity but that took many more years of practice and skill. Maybe she could do it but she was too scared to try with so many priests close by.

A boy set to look after the beasts while others could be brought and loaded noticed the animal’s discomfort and came aver. Illyara had to wait a few moments before he went away again and she grabbed a robe from a pack. There was a second of worry while she adjusted the invisibility to apply to the item she carried but the boy didn’t seem to notice. She had it, she thought with relief. She moved behind the yelks in front of the city walls and placed the robe over her head. They were loose but not so baggy they would call attention to her. She was lucky today. Moving from behind the yelk, she set off in the direction where she knew her people would be waiting.

Illyara took no notice of the hot sun, knowing she would be at camp long before mid-day. It was tedious journey but she had done it many times before. This spring was known only to a few nomads and she didn’t have to worry that she would meet any of the guides on the way. Still, she had kept a close eye out for the first hour and disguised her footprints in the sand but she couldn’t relax until she saw the familiar tents of her people. They were still there. She knew they would be but there was always the fear of discovery. That they would have been made to move on or worse. These were dangerous times.

Her father was in the large tent eating a snack while the mid-day meal was prepared. He was joking and laughing at something mother was saying. Illyara smiled as she pulled the flap down behind her. She really wanted what they had but that had to wait. She approached through the milling throng and stood before him until he noticed her.

“Illyara, you are back. How did the visit go? Has Lynsey Walker removed the band?”

“No father she is in even worse trouble.”

He smiled at her. “What has happened, sweet Orchid?”

“She is special father, she is like the Dragon.” Her father’s face dropped into a serious expression as he listened. “She is an immortal, she can talk to anyone. …and what is worse is that she is being forced to show them the location of the Pyramids.”

Her father’s face darkened. “That is not acceptable.”

“I also believe the dragon is being held in the temple, in a section I saw Lynsey taken from.”

“Why do you think that?”

“There was a distinctive odour I have never smelt before. They are keeping an animal below their temple and it definitely is no goat or chicken.”

“It is not beyond doubt, yet they did take the dragon. It cannot die. Our ancestors saw the head taken off and it regrew. It must be somewhere.”

Illyara waited as he voiced his thoughts.

“We cannot break into the heart of our enemy’s stronghold until we are certain. Our priority has to be to rescue Lynsey to stop them violating the pyramid and enriching themselves on our ancestors suffering.”

“They will be leaving within hours, father.”

“Then so shall we.”

Contents

Chapter 1 - Duat
Chapter 2 - London - Present Day
Chapter 3 – Lynsey on Duat
Chapter 4 - Nomads
Chapter 5 - Scorpion
Chapter 6 - The Dragon Temple
Chapter 7 - Assassin
Chapter 8 - The Luscious Luna
Chapter 9 - Arkan Blade
Chapter 10 - Kidnapped
Chapter 11 - Rescue
Chapter 12 - Modesty
Chapter 13 - Banquet
Chapter 14 - Arkan
Chapter 15 - Dancing with the King
Chapter 16 - Dragon Brotherhood
Chapter 17 - Pico
Chapter 18 – The Dragon
Chapter 19 – Settling Down
Chapter 20 – Danger Revealed
Chapter 21 – Betrayal
Chapter 22 - A Meeting of Minds

There are fates worse than death…

#amwriting #books

Welcome to the serialisation of Accidental Immortal. Chapters will be published four times a week so the serialisation will be completed at (roughly) the same time as on Wattpad, if not a little sooner!

If you would like to start from the beginning, please head over to chapter one. There is also a contents list at the bottom of each post.

–Ceri Clark

Chapter 22 – A Meeting of Minds

This was getting to be a habit. Lynsey groaned. “What the hell happened?” She woke up groggy, struggling to wake up from the miasma of drugged sleep.  She kept her eyes closed, letting the last wisps pf confusion drift away from her.

“Pico, Pico?”

“Hello Lynsey. We appeared to have been drugged.”

“Master of the understatement yet again. Do you know where we are?”

“Inconclusive. The drug they used to make you sleep, shut down all your brain as well as body functions so I was knocked out as well. I can tell you that we are in a humid environment and it smells like animals have been here but beyond that I have no idea.”

“GPS not working then?”

“Very funny Lynsey.”

“I thought so.”

Lynsey opened her eyes and blinked. She could hardly see a thing. She tried to bring her hand up to her head but couldn’t. She tried again and realised she was tied to a chair. Oh, come on. Give me a break here.

She went limp. Was that a sound? She listened hard. There! She could hear even breathing to her right. She peered into the darkness. It took a few moments but then she saw a dull light pulsating. Lynsey craned her neck to get a better look. There was definitely someone there. Were they waitingt to make a dramatic entrance or something? If they were trying to make her nervous, it was working. A rasping sound behind her made her jump. There was more than one person here. She stiffened as she tried to identify what it could be. It sounded large. Maybe it was just someone scraping a chair trying to get the wind up her. Remembering the two headed snake, she fervently hoped so.

In silence, the light to her side moved up and travelled across the darkness towards her, revealing a figure in a long hooded robe. What was it with priests and robes? Lynsey almost laughed but her mouth felt dry. She realised her skin felt tight. She must be dehydrated. Where the hell was she?

“Would you like a drink?” The voice was thick as if the speaker had smoked for years.

Lynsey swallowed, tiny knives grazed up and down her throat. “I don’t understand. Who are you and where am I?”

Pico answered again in her mind, “The temperature in here is too high. You need water. You will go into a coma soon if you don’t drink and we don’t know what will happen to you if that happens. Take the offer!” Pico was getting far too bossy but she was tired, hot and she didn’t know how long she could cope. Irritated she replied to the priest.

“Yes, I need a drink.”

The hood lowered in response and the figure moved out of view. The light floated back across the room and then bobbed back. The priest now carried a small wooden cup.

“Please don’t try to escape Lynsey. You may get past me but there are guards on the other side of the door and there is a fearsome beast behind you. There is no way you can get away so we may as well be civilised about this.”

Lynsey nodded. Whatever, just give me the water, will you, she thought. The robed figure put the cup on the floor in front of her. She heard a grunt behind her as her bonds were released. Lynsey rubbed her wrists while the pain lessened. Where the rope had would around her hands, it had cut into her skin. The light was dim but she kept her hands over her wrists to hide any healing. A splosh on the floor made her look up to see the proffered cup jiggling. She reached up and took it gratefully.

It tasted tepid but it was the most delicious water Lynsey had ever drunk. She felt it slide down her neck and down through her chest. She drank thirstily emptying the cup within seconds. The stranger watched in silence until she finished.

“Now that I have your attention, we need to start at the beginning. Where are the pyramids?”

“I don’t know.”

“Come on now. We know you have been there. We have the elephant and the other trinkets you liberated from there.” Lynsey heard a tinkle and a bag of jewellery and ornaments flowed on to the floor.  The eye in the elephant twinkled in the lamp light. She heard something move behind her.

“Lynsey.“ Pico called, “I can take you there. Maybe they will let you go if you tell them.”

“I don’t know, but I can take you there.” Lynsey said out loud.

“That is good. We have a party preparing to leave in the morning. There is some more water on the table and some cold meats and vegetables if you want it.”

The figure moved off and she heard some banging on what she presumed was a door. When she was sure she was alone, Lynsey dared to stand up.

Slowly she turned. It was too dark to see clearly but she could make out the table in the gloom. She stumbled over and picked up the lamp. There was a wheel underneath a glass globe. She turned it fully clockwise and the lamp brightened. Lynsey held the light aloft and turned to face the beast the priest had said was there.

There wasn’t anything? Except … there! A pile of rocks moved, morphing into a face in the gloom. Its head was the size of a small car. She looked back and saw a long neck connected to a huge body that could house a small building.

Its jaw was resting on its … claws? They could almost be hands. They had six digits with evil looking talons which ended in sharp points. Its great head rose and tilted to get a better look at her.

”A dragon,” she breathed out.

“Another human”, she heard in her mind as it growled back. Lynsey jumped.

“You can talk?”

“You can understand me?” The voice in her mind was tinged with surprise.

“Yes.” Then she directed a thought at Pico, “It’s you isn’t it, I can understand him through you.”

“Of course, I am your universal translator remember.”

Lynsey drew closer to the creature. “You won’t eat me will you?”

“Why do you creatures always assume that I’m going to eat you? No. You people have done a lot worse to me over the centuries.”

“You’ve been here centuries?”

“Is that all you are going to do? Turn whatever I say last into a sentence?”

“Sorry, but I’ve never been able to talk to a dragon before, It is slightly overwhelming.”

The dragon rolled his red-green eyes. “Why are you here?”

“I can take them to the pyramids.”

“From what that person said, she wanted more from you than that. How can you talk to me?”

“Lynsey held out her arm and Pico made the band visible. The dragon looked at it with interest then his head sank back to the floor again. ”I’ve seen that before when I first got here. A priest had one.”

“Priest. When you got here? Where are you from?”

“Somewhere very far away human, you wouldn’t understand.”

“I think I might. Was it another planet?”

“You know about planets?” This time the dragon’s head stayed up with a clink and Lynsey noticed an iron chain leading to a collar around his neck. She touched her own neck in sympathy.

“Yes, of course. I’m not from here. I’m from a planet called Earth.”

“Original. Funnily enough my planet is called that as well but I don’t think we are from the same place.”

“I’m from the Milky Way Galaxy. I was hit by lightning and I found myself here.”

“Interesting, the same happened to me. I was on my way to a meeting when the weather turned for the worst. I suspect it was a combination of a solar flare, freak weather conditions and a black hole occurring at the same time. A once in lifetime occurrence. I thought I might be the only one.”

“Wow, you know about solar flares?”

“I find your incredulity quite insulting. Do you think your kind are the only species that can create a civilisation? Has your world even achieved space flight yet?”

“Yes! We’ve been to our moon and we’re planning to go to Mars.”

“I bet that is in your solar system?” She nodded. “Well, we achieved that hundreds of years ago. My civilisation has colonies on moons and planets throughout our galaxy and I’m reduced to this – chained and tortured by barbarians on an obscure planet. My family will have been dead centuries ago now.” A single tear fell down his snout.

Lynsey felt uncomfortable. “Why do they torture you?”

“Travelling to this world changed me. My life span increased. I have lived for centuries longer than I should have. I’m almost starting to fear that I cannot die.” His laugh sounded hollow in her mind.  When she didn’t respond, he carried on. “Every day they come with their bowls and their rituals and they take blood. They found that my blood can extend their lives as well. But while I do not age they still do at a lower rate.”

“Oh God.” Lynsey turned pale as she made the connection.

The dragon clinked as he leaned closer and then began to growl with laughter. “They are going to do that to you as well aren’t they? You are immortal like me!”

Contents

Chapter 1 - Duat
Chapter 2 - London - Present Day
Chapter 3 – Lynsey on Duat
Chapter 4 - Nomads
Chapter 5 - Scorpion
Chapter 6 - The Dragon Temple
Chapter 7 - Assassin
Chapter 8 - The Luscious Luna
Chapter 9 - Arkan Blade
Chapter 10 - Kidnapped
Chapter 11 - Rescue
Chapter 12 - Modesty
Chapter 13 - Banquet
Chapter 14 - Arkan
Chapter 15 - Dancing with the King
Chapter 16 - Dragon Brotherhood
Chapter 17 - Pico
Chapter 18 – The Dragon
Chapter 19 – Settling Down
Chapter 20 – Danger Revealed
Chapter 21 – Betrayal

There are fates worse than death…

Welcome to the serialisation of Accidental Immortal. Chapters will be published four times a week so the serialisation will be completed at (roughly) the same time as on Wattpad, if not a little sooner!

If you would like to start from the beginning, please head over to chapter one. There is also a contents list at the bottom of each post.

–Ceri Clark

Chapter 21 – Betrayal

Several courtiers surrounded Illyara in a loose circle. There was plenty of space in the room, why did they have to stand so near? She looked from one to the other. Their bland expressions of feigned boredom on their painted faces was tedious. She stifled a yawn.  Where was Lynsey? She may be strange and from another world but she was far from scary and never boring. That was it. The reason she was on edge. If she was being completely honest with herself, these people were a little frightening.  It was like they were using that paint to disguise their true selves. Some instinct made her shift her weight onto the balls of her feet. What had seemed friendly when they walked in, was taking on a darker aura. Why was she thinking that? She relaxed her muscles and readjusted her weight as she tried to shake the mood off. She must be imagining it. But, the same ability that helped her become invisible was warning her of something. If only she could read thoughts, these hunches were just too vague to be helpful.

It was too late. She couldn’t stop thinking something was wrong now. She found herself looking for routes of escape in the gaps between people. There were just so many of them, men and women hovered around her like bees to honey. Her instincts warred with her reason. There was no reason to be afraid. They looked vacuous, there was nothing actually threatening in their expressions or even the way they were acting. This was ridiculous, she chided herself. A wave of homesickness for the emptiness of the desert swept over her, leaving her feeling desolate. She needed to leave the city.

“…and the Maree’s heir had to visit Dirik’s!” Mirth erupted around her but as she looked at the lord nearest her and then at the next, she realised that their smiles didn’t quite reach their eyes. She was starting to think they were enjoying her discomfort.

She had barely heard what they said for the last half hour. Nodding seemed to be enough for them for the most part. And Lynsey had still not come back. Where was she? She was only supposed to be going to cool down. But, Illyara reflected, she had looked annoyed. Maybe she should go after her? The man in front had stopped talking and was looking at her as if waiting for an answer. What had he said?

Goddess! Did it matter? These people were so superficial. All the women talked of was the latest fashions, how handsome Lord so and so is. The men, talked about the weather, races and their prowess at war. They were all over-dressed, over opinionated nitwits. Her hands clenched by her sides as she caught sight of the food table beyond the man. She was fuming. Her people were starving, no, not just her people but there were others across the land who were suffering so these idiots could eat stuffed perkot and moan about the rain shower that made their hair ever so slightly frizzy last week.

The more she thought about it, the more definite she was that her father was right. Anger began to replace nebulous fear. She had to see for herself that Ghinarians were corrupt to the core. Even Luna played the game. She had shown them a different side the last couple of days but she obviously had no intention of changing the system. Why should she, her whole lifestyle depended on it?

Lynsey really should be back by now. Illyara smiled sweetly at the lord, she had no idea what he’d said. Inwardly she seethed at the fake pleasantries. That was it, time to go. Dropping into a curtsey, she murmured at the man.

“Please do excuse me sir, I must go and look for my friends.” It was time to find Lynsey. While he turned to talk to someone on his left, she flicked her fan up and walked towards the exit. Her back straightened, she lifted her chin up and she exuded as much confidence as she could muster. Reaching the edge of a table laden with drinks, she glanced back to check that no one was watching. A few faces were, so she picked up a glass and brought it to her lips. She took a few pretend sips until they looked away and then slipped behind a column out of view of the room. She pressed her back against the cool column and closed her eyes. She breathed in deeply and let her frustration leave her as she breathed out. Her hands dropped to her side and she relaxed her mind, ignoring the sounds and smells that assaulted her senses. Her heartbeat slowed and she felt something in her mind shift.

Grabbing on to the change, she visualised every mind in the room as a little candle flame in the darkness. She could clearly ‘see’ how many were around her. The men’s flames were more red and the women had yellower flames. She spread her awareness out further. Walls were no object but she could only get a glimpse of the number of people. Her mind was stretching too far, perhaps too much. She gathered herself together. The last thing she did was imagine darkness surrounding her. Her eyes flipped open. All anyone would see when they looked in her direction was a fuzzy black space. The mind wouldn’t be able to comprehend the absence of everything so they would dismiss her as if she wasn’t there.

She remembered her father’s face the first time he taught her the technique. He had been younger then but his eyes appeared older than his years, their core, deep pools of jet black.

“We were changed by those we don’t speak of. We were never meant to exist. If it hadn’t been for our saviour we would not be here today. When our ancestors escaped, we carried the seeds of our master’s destruction. They wanted to be able to speak with their minds but we learned what they did to us meant we could hide in plain sight.” He’d looked out into the sunset as he spoke, his voice had been quieter than normal and she’d strained to hear him.

“We must never forget that we owe a great debt or that our abilities can be misused by others.” He twisted to face her. “I once had to sentence a member of our tribe to death for letting an outsides know about what we can do. Do not let this happen to you, my daughter. Stay safe and stay hidden.” Illyara had always wondered at that farewell but as she learned their history she grew to understand the wisdom of it.

Leaving the memory behind, she strode from the column in the direction that Lynsey had left. Nearing the half-open doorway that led to the stairs. She spotted her friend turning away from the king. Illyara let go of the breath she didn’t realise she was holding. Lynsey looked horrified, but she was clearly unharmed. Like Luna said, what could happen at a ball?

Reaching forward with the closest hand, she pushed the door fully open. Illyara breathed in squeezing past a woman bulging out of a mint-green dress. The woman was shrieking with laughter and her nearest arm flailed out. Illyara had time to see the lord beside her grin at his companion’s reaction before she ducked. The woman’s arm swept over her head. A drop of wine sploshed out and hit her as she hugged the door frame. The woman looked directly at Illyara for a moment. Her eyes narrowed and her mouth started to form a sound. Illyara concentrated on the flame which seemed to superimpose on the woman’s face and her eyes glazed, her expression erasing. The woman turned back to her companion.

“Darling, you are so funny.”

Illyara burst through to the other side of the door to see two guards wearing royal colours separating from the king. If their uniforms hadn’t given them away, then the fact that they were the tallest in the room would have made anyone pause. Their blue and gold uniforms were stretched taught over their chest muscles as they moved with purpose behind Lynsey. Their jaws were set and their eyes steely. Illyara wanted to call out but it would have given her position away. Years of her father’s training held her back, rooted to the spot. She watched in horror as she saw one of them grab Lynsey and the other hold a cloth over her mouth and nose. Illyara gave a strangled cry. She clamped her hands around her mouth as she saw Lynsey collapse. The woman who was now to her side looked in her direction but saw nothing and turned back to the lord. Didn’t she see what was happening to Lynsey? Why wasn’t she helping? Illyara rushed forward but the guards bundled her friend up and dragged her to a side room. Not one person from the corridor or room intervened or even seemed to notice.

Illyara followed and watched them throw Lynsey out of a window then calmly walk back to the king. She was aghast. She ran to the window, a slight breeze brushed a few tendrils that had escaped her hair-pins and tickled her cheeks. She caught and flicked them away as she searched the ground. There! Lynsey was below. Six men in dark clothing carried her unconscious form in the gloom. They were heading for a carriage.

Illyara fought despair. There was no way she could keep up with a carriage. Her arms dropped in surrender then she caught her breath as she recognized the colour of the carriage. It was the blood red of the Dragon Temple.

Illyara raced to the main ballroom and found Luna laughing with the king in a corner. Careful not to touch anyone. She was invisible but she could still be felt and be captured, she crept up to the pair.

“I wish there had been another way.” She heard Luna say.

“There isn’t, that girl could be the answer to our prayers. She hasn’t told you anything has she?”

“No, and I don’t think she would. She was determined to leave. I tried to deter her but you know how young people can be.”

“Indeed. Ghinari thanks you. With the location of the pyramids we will be able to gain enough treasure to raise an army to defeat the Eryl by the Festival of Sekhmet”

“That soon?”

“We have nearly pushed them from our borders. We were running low on money but with your help this will soon be rectified. Our alliance with the brotherhood will finally end this war and we can concentrate on feeding our people” He was watching Luna intently but she still looked troubled.

“Duchess, you have done your country a service today. We will not harm the girl. She claims not to know where the pyramids are but that cannot be true. She has artefacts from that place. For all we know she is an agent of the Eryl. You know there are no blond people, yet here she is. We do not know if there are any blond people within the Eryl. If she is a plant we need to know. It could be that she was here to make us waste time and resources on a wild goose chase so that they can win sooner. Do you understand?”

“I do. I just started to feel sorry for the girl. She was becoming attached to your young assassin you know.”

“I suspected it was him when she escaped the first time. Arkan is dangerous but when he realizes that the fate of our world rests on that girl cooperating then he will come around. It is the reason I have not confided in him yet. I believe that he is in turn infatuated with her for the moment. It will pass.”

“Thank you for letting me be a part of this, your Highness.”

“It is my pleasure Duchess. To show our gratitude I will award your husband exclusive contracts to supply our forces on the front line.”

“Your Highness, you are too kind!” Luna’s cheeks turned pink.

Illyara despaired. Luna already knew that Lynsey had been captured. Could Arkan really be trusted? He seemed to like her. She wished she could have her father here for advice. She was surprised that no one had missed her. At that point she could see that Luna had the same thought.

“Where is Illyara?”

“Her companion?”

“Yes, she was here with us.”

“She is of no use to me. You may keep her as a pet.”

Illyara ran. She dodged past nobles, serving men and women, and tables until she reached the dance floor. She skirted to the edge of the room and then ran out. Where could she go? Luna’s house was not safe. She stood undecided on the road. The new house was a sham there was only one place she could go.

The Temple was several miles away but Illyara was used to travelling long distances on foot. She tore off the bottom of her dress so it would not hamper her journey. Keeping invisible to all onlookers was a strain but she couldn’t risk being seen. Dressed in court clothes would make her a target for every cutpurse in town.

The well-kept, wide streets of the wealthy soon turned narrower and the stench of filth on the streets threatened to distract her from staying invisible. At this time of night there were few daring the open streets. She dodged women with low necklines and high skirts, men on the look-out for prey and younger men chancing their luck for a story to be told at the inn the next day. She could only glance with pity at these denizens of the night. It wasn’t her business and there was nothing she could do apart from avoid their situations.

She reached the Temple in a couple of hours. There was no sign of the carriage but if Arkan truly cared about Lynsey then he would turn up sooner than later.

Contents

Chapter 1 - Duat
Chapter 2 - London - Present Day
Chapter 3 – Lynsey on Duat
Chapter 4 - Nomads
Chapter 5 - Scorpion
Chapter 6 - The Dragon Temple
Chapter 7 - Assassin
Chapter 8 - The Luscious Luna
Chapter 9 - Arkan Blade
Chapter 10 - Kidnapped
Chapter 11 - Rescue
Chapter 12 - Modesty
Chapter 13 - Banquet
Chapter 14 - Arkan
Chapter 15 - Dancing with the King
Chapter 16 - Dragon Brotherhood
Chapter 17 - Pico
Chapter 18 – The Dragon
Chapter 19 – Settling Down
Chapter 20 – Danger Revealed

There are fates worse than death…

Welcome to the serialisation of Accidental Immortal. Chapters will be published four times a week so the serialisation will be completed at (roughly) the same time as on Wattpad, if not a little sooner!

If you would like to start from the beginning, please head over to chapter one. There is also a contents list at the bottom of each post.

–Ceri Clark

Chapter 20 – Danger Revealed

Arkan’s feet padded on the ground as he approached the Palace on foot. Overhead, clouds covered the sky, periodically blocking the light from the silver crescent moons. The perfect conditions for a clandestine visit. The woods around him were quiet except for the occasional call from a night owl to disturb the stillness. The only similarity to the bird of myth was its propensity to hunt at night. Its size, claws and intelligence made it a formidable opponent to humans. Something Arkan kept at the back of his mind while walking. He could fight it off with no problem but the sound the creature would make would alert everyone for an iteru. He could probably explain why he was creeping around the palace grounds at night when the king was away but it would be better not to.

There was something about how the king was acting that confused him. Herad had been watching the Temple for days. The grizzled veteran was old but very reliable in all the time he’d known him. He’d sat heavily on the tavern bench that afternoon. He didn’t say it but Arkan knew the old man was in pain. He took a deep draught of the beer that Arkan had ordered before he’d arrived and wiped his mouth with the back of his hand. His eyes twinkled.

“I have news, young assassin.”

“Herad, not here.”

“No one can hear. That screeching sound, I hesitate to call music is too loud and that rabble wouldn’t be interested anyway.”

“There are ears everywhere Herad.” Arkan admonished, flicking a coin between his fingers. “What have you seen?”

“The king visited Baserius this afternoon.” Herad coughed and spluttered for a moment before swallowing it back down with a swig of beer.

Arkan looked up at Herad but he was deadly serious. Why would he do that without telling him? He flipped the coin he was holding in the air and the old man grabbed it without blinking. Anyone watching would have been hard pressed to see the action but within moments the barmaid came over to refill Herad’s drink. Arkan made sure to go while the other man was busy.

There were few guards in the gardens. Their heavy boots, made them noisy and cumbersome on the undergrowth, allowing Arkan to evade them with no trouble. He moved like a ghost from trees to statues until he came up to the folly he was looking for.

It was built over a century ago, added to the designs by the Assassins Guild with coins greasing the right palms. If you didn’t know what you were looking for, the building was just a tall tower. Its ground floor was open to the elements but it provided a brief shelter from the rain or sun for people enjoying the gardens that needed protection.

Arkan entered the structure and moved to the south-west corner where he pushed some dirt away to reveal a ring. It resisted for a moment but he strained his muscles to pull harder. Dirt cascaded down from the hatch that opened, revealing a dark opening. He dropped down, pulling the hatch closed behind him. The action jarred a chain that moved a small piece of wood that contained some dirt above the hatch. The dirt fell to the ground, concealing the hatch once again from prying eyes.

The tunnel was narrow and low. He had to hunch down with difficulty to get the flint from his pocket.  He felt along the wall until he found an alcove where a lamp had been hidden by a predecessor. He would have to remember to replace it later. He struck twice and the tunnel illuminated.

It smelled musty and swathes of spider webs filled the space ahead. Arkan reached for a light wooden shield on a stick which had been left on its side beside him. It was designed to protect his clothes from the worst of the tunnel detritus by bringing down the webs as he walked. It wouldn’t be done to be seen wearing filthy clothes when he entered the palace. It would arouse suspicion. He moved forward holding the device before him. It was light but the awkward angle made it seem heavier than it was.

Arkan breathed a sigh of relief when he reached the palace itself. The tunnel widened into a corridor allowing him to stand at his true height.

He moved through corridor after corridor. As he entered the inhabited part of the palace, he noticed it was practically deserted. It was easy to pass unseen into the King’s private study. Not many people knew about this room. It was concealed by a tapestry off his official rooms.

Arkan pulled back the heavy fabric and slotted a key into the disguised lock near the top of the door. The door itself was shaped and decorated as a panel for when the tapestries were cleaned once a year. The key turned with a small click and the door swung inward without a sound.

Unlike the other study this one had few luxury trappings.  The king liked to play the playboy in front of his subjects, the absent minded lord but Arkan knew the king had a mind like a steel trap. If there was anything the king was hiding from him then this would be the place he would find it.

Arkan searched the desk but found only business documents. Now, where would they be? He stood with his back to the door and scanned the room for anomalies. There, that had to be it. On the shelves against the longest wall, were hundreds of small thin boxes made to hold scrolls. Each one was precisely in alignment. Except – one of them jutted out against the others on the end of the shelves next to the desk. There was a thin layer of dust covering all but that one. Arkan smiled, it must have been recently used. Arkan reached up and felt the box.  It rattled as the contents shifted to the side and downwards as he drew it from the shelf. He brought the box closer to his face and sniffed. A sharp whiff of incense shot up his nose. It could only have come from one place.

“The temple” he breathed, “this is why he went there.

Arkan put the box on the desk and pulled the chair under him.  The king had already left for the ball so there was no need to worry about time.

He pulled the scroll out and skimmed through the glyphs. It was about myths?  Why would Baserius give the king this? Further down the scroll was an illustration of the Osiris band and Arkan’s breath caught. Baserius knew about that? Arkan delved further in and a history he knew nothing of before unfolded.

During the reign of Suramus II, he read, an expedition was called to find the ancient pyramids of myth. The scroll detailed the provisions taken like a shopping list. Arkan’s eyes glazed and he skipped the contents. It took weeks to prepare it went on, the provisions had to be found, guides and men hired.

Arkan skipped further down again. After weeks travelling the desert and with their water supplies dwindling, they reached the temple. Dawn was breaking and a dragon attacked them. A dragon? Arkan’s head raised slightly but he lowered it again, eager to read on. He was fascinated. Now that he knew the band existed he tried to suspend his disbelief at what he was reading.

A great battle was fought over the next few hours. The explorers on the expedition were not soldiers, they were not expecting to fight anyone or anything but they bravely fought on for the riches they were promised.

Whatever they did to the dragon, they found to their fear that it would not die. They removed its head with a heroic slash of a blade and for a while they thought it was over until it grew back within hours. This time, the dragon grew even more ferocious in its defence.

Arkan stopped reading. Lynsey had healed remarkably quickly. He remembered how her bruises had disappeared before his eyes after the accident. Was she like the dragon?

He bent down to read again, turning the lamp up a notch.

Finally the men were able to put chains and trap the dragon on to their cart. The roars were deafening but they slashed it with swords until it subsided. As the blade sunk into the dragon’s arm, its blood spurted on to the wounds of an injured explorer. To the amazement of the rest of the expedition, the wound healed before their eyes.

There were jewels and objects beyond price found in one of the pyramids but the transport was filled with an even greater treasure, the dragon. They filled their pockets and took what would fit in their pockets leaving treasure beyond their imagining behind them. They would come back.

Arkan realised that time was passing. He hurriedly scanned though a few more passages.  They were set upon by some thieves and one of the company was fatally wounded defending another. The thieves were quickly dispatched. As they were fighting a fire began, destroyed much of the camp including maps that had been drawn to allow them to get back.

Further down the scroll again, there was an illustration of the temple being built over the dragon.

Arkan rolled up the scroll and put it back into the box. He was careful to place it exactly as he’d found it. He’d read enough. Here was the proof that Lynsey was in danger. If Baserius and the king were prepared to ally to get hold of Lynsey, nowhere was safe in Ghinari. He and Luna were wrong. For the power of the Osiris band, the location of unlimited treasure and blood that could heal any wound there would be nothing Baserius or the king would not do to get her.

Contents

Chapter 1 - Duat
Chapter 2 - London - Present Day
Chapter 3 – Lynsey on Duat
Chapter 4 - Nomads
Chapter 5 - Scorpion
Chapter 6 - The Dragon Temple
Chapter 7 - Assassin
Chapter 8 - The Luscious Luna
Chapter 9 - Arkan Blade
Chapter 10 - Kidnapped
Chapter 11 - Rescue
Chapter 12 - Modesty
Chapter 13 - Banquet
Chapter 14 - Arkan
Chapter 15 - Dancing with the King
Chapter 16 - Dragon Brotherhood
Chapter 17 - Pico
Chapter 18 – The Dragon
Chapter 19 – Settling Down

There are fates worse than death…

Welcome to the serialisation of Accidental Immortal. Chapters will be published four times a week so the serialisation will be completed at (roughly) the same time as on Wattpad, if not a little sooner!

If you would like to start from the beginning, please head over to chapter one. There is also a contents list at the bottom of each post.

–Ceri Clark

Chapter 19 – Settling Down

Lynsey woke to find her dressing table littered with cards. She yawned and wandered over, hitching up her nightgown with her left hand and sipping from a glass of water she picked up from the side table on the way with the other. How did the staff get them in without waking her up? She didn’t like people being in her room while she was asleep.

There were so many of them. She scanned the pile off invitations. There were more invitations here than she had birthday cards at her 18th. She sat down, placing the water on an empty corner.

As she was sorting them into piles, Illyara wandered in.

“Listen to this,” Lynsey began to read. “I would be honoured to invite you to the Contee ball.” She grabbed another. “I am holding a small soiree, and I would like to invite you and your companion.” She picked up card after card. “There are dozens of them. I’m finally popular.” The last sentence was delivered with a sardonic twist of her mouth.

“Are you feeling alright?”

Lynsey thought back to yesterday’s conversation between Arkan and Luna. To be safe she had to stay in Ghinari but Arkan made it very clear he didn’t want her here. There was no way she could avoid him. If she stayed then Arkan would see her every time he visited Luna.

Lynsey stood up, reaching for the wardrobe beside the desk. She threw on a dress and tied her hair in a quick bun as she hurried out of the room.

“C’mon.”

“Lynsey?”

“C’mon, we have to find Luna.”

They found the duchess reading in the Solar. A comfortable room, it had also been converted into a library. Scrolls were piled high on deep shelves that lined the longest wall. Sombre family portraits jostled together, hung wherever there was space along with landscapes between several tall windows which let the sun flood into the room.

Luna sat on a settee surrounded by opened invitations. She looked up as they entered the room.

“Do I have enough money to have my own house?”

“Good morning to you too.” Luna replied.

“Uh, Lynsey I don’t think this is wise yet.” Pico’s voice invaded her mind.

“Not now Pico.”

“Why yes.” Luna replied realising that a good morning was too much to ask. “You actually have more money than I do. Has someone done something to offend you?”

“Oh no, I just feel it is time to stop presuming on you.”

“Oh my dear, you are really not presuming. I delight in your company. I haven’t had such excitement in – well, forever. You are a tonic. Please do not feel that you have to leave. You are not taking advantage. In fact I have had more invitations this morning to balls and dances than I have had in months and I am really rather popular. It has all made me feel ten years younger.” She pointed at the sofa cushions littered with as many cards as Lynsey had received.

Lynsey exchanged looks with Illyara, giving Luna a second glance. She couldn’t be more than thirty. She tried again.

“It’s not that. It’s just that I have never really lived with anyone before. I like to be independent.”

Luna scanned the invitations with a sad expression for a moment and then looked up smiling.

“In that case, please allow me to help you find somewhere to live. I believe Lord Trekarik has recently vacated Trekarik Park. Confidentially,” Luna’s voice lowered, “I heard it was because he gambled his fortune away. Gambling is a fool’s occupation but you probably already know that already.” Luna sat up and grabbed a scroll that threatened to slide off her lap down on a nearby table.

“The Contee ball is tonight. I received an invitation this morning. They must have been curious about you to invite you at such short notice.” She shuffled the piles looking for it. “Here it is. The King will not be attending and the High Priest certainly won’t be there so it should be a fun evening all around. We can have a quick look around Trekarik Park before lunch and we will still have time to get ready for the ball.”

It took another hour before messages could be exchanged in order to visit the house. Lynsey paced the solar, unable to sit down while they waited for an answer. She could barely hold back her excitement. She’d wanted to buy a house for years. She suspected that eventually she could have afforded a flat in one of the seedier areas of a city that wasn’t London, but here she was not even twenty one and she was going to buy a stately home.

A sudden rap on the door made her look up. A butler dressed in a yellow silk uniform entered bringing a small folded slip of paper on a silver tray. He offered the tray to Luna with a bow. Luna rose and took the paper.

“There will be staff there this morning who can show us around. It is still open for offers.”

Lynsey twisted to look at Illyara sitting on a nearby armchair. Her smile slipped at her friend’s expression. Her forehead creased but Illyara shook her head slightly. She wasn’t going to say why in front of Luna then.

On their way back to the room, Illyara took Lynsey’s arm.

“You know this is not wise, Lynsey.”

“Why not?”

“If we move we will lose the protection that Luna and Arkan afford.”

“Illyara, I have enough money to have a thousand guards. We don’t have to worry. We could have our own army if we needed to.”

“It is not just that. We are strangers here. We do not know the conventions that we must follow. We are strangers in a strange land.”

“Illyara, it will be fine. We’ll have the time of our lives.” She didn’t want to tell Illyara that the real reason she wanted to buy a house was because she didn’t want to bump into Arkan every five minutes.

Later that day, they swung into a wooded area from the main road that stretched through Ghinari. They were in the Duchess’ second carriage, which, while not as grand, had to Lynsey’s relief slightly more padding on the seats.

Tall trees with a distinctive red-violet bark grown in peculiar straight rows marked the beginning of Trekarik Park. They led the way down a well-maintained wide mud track. About a mile along, the path turned to cobbles and the smell of cut grass and a floral fragrance that reminded Lynsey of the King’s ball announced the approaching formal gardens.

It was one of the oldest houses in the city, Luna explained along the way and as the wheels of their carriage crunched up beside the front door, the house did not disappoint. Its sweeping driveway was large enough to accommodate two carriages and the house itself was sprawling.

A side door immediately opened and two servants greeted them. The first was dressed in a green and yellow dress and the second wore loose fitting trousers and a top of the same colours. They bowed first to the Duchess and then curtseyed to Lynsey and Illyara.

They pointed at the door and the small party followed them.

“They don’t talk much,” whispered Lynsey.

Luna leaned in between Lynsey and Illyara and whispered at the same level.

“It is alright, you cannot offend them. They are servants. Do I need to keep reminding you of this? I really don’t know if you are ready to live on your own.” She looked from one to the other and sighed. “They are of a tribe that has taken a vow of silence. They only communicate by gestures. They make great servants because they do not gossip. They are Lord Tekarik’s oldest servants.”

The pair waited patiently for the conversation to cease and then pointed forward again. Luna nodded.

“We don’t have long you know if we are to be ready for the ball tonight.”

From there, they were shown around at a brisk pace. There were two floors and ten bedrooms. Lynsey walked around in a daze. Gold leaf on the walls? A swimming pool around the back and a ballroom to rival the King’s. The more they were shown, the more the servants seemed almost tearful to be leaving.

“How many staff would you need to run this place?”

Luna answered. “To run it I would say at least thirty but there are only five of them here currently. The old Duke couldn’t afford to keep all the staff going.”

“This place would house about five tribes” was Illyara’s comment.

Luna ignored Illyara. “This place is impressively big but you would have to hire about fifty guards to make it safe. The park is no deterrent. If you built a wall to surround the house, it would be an improvement. Although it would ruin the look of the place. Even then Arkan could get over that in moments and he is not the only assassin in town.”

Why did she have to bring up Arkan all the time? Hang on, did she just say Assassin?

Luna’s mouth formed an o at her expression. “You didn’t realise? He’s not just an assassin he is the King’s Assassin.” Her mouth twitched in amusement. “I thought you knew.”

“You have assassins here. Why would you do that?”

“To protect yourself. Why else? The best defence is an offence after all.”

“What about police?”

“What are police?” It was Luna’s turn to look puzzled.

“You don’t have anyone who looks for criminals, enforces the laws?”

“Anyone can bring problems before the king. Why would we pay to sort out someone else’s problems? We hire guards to look after our own things and put the rest in the bank.”

The servants were getting restless. They needed a reply. Lynsey took another look at the grand hallway with its sweeping staircase and high ceilings. She couldn’t have believed even visiting a place like this would have been possible a few weeks ago. This house could be hers. She thought about what Luna had said. She had been kidnapped but that was before the ball. Everyone knew about her now and she had the protection of Luna’s family name. Wasn’t that the whole point of going to the King’s ball in the first place? He wouldn’t go after her now. They were all exaggerating the danger. If she stayed in the public eye maybe she could be safe and if she had to build a private army then so be it. She chuckled. Who was exaggerating now?

“I’ll take it.” She replied at their questioning look. A small smile greeted her answer.

The rest was a formality. They visited the bank who transferred the amount needed to the Duke. She didn’t know what she expected but since everyone used the same bank, it was just a matter of transferring the money from one vault to another. In this case, the Duke was happy to accept jewels in payment. Lynsey suspected that he was getting a slighter better exchange rate than if she tried to sell the jewels herself but she wanted the house and she didn’t want to wait anymore.

They were back at Luna’s and readying for the ball with plenty of time to spare.

“Aren’t you excited about moving to our new place?” Lynsey asked Illyara.

Her friend smiled sadly. “I will miss Luna but I can only stay with you for a few more weeks. I should re-join my family.”

Lynsey rolled over on top of the bedspreads to face Illyara. “I thought you could stay for years, explore the world, find love.”

“I don’t think I will find it here Lynsey. They are all about money and status. These are not things my tribe value. I need to look elsewhere. You obviously want to make roots here and that is fine. I will always wish you well.”

“Have your family been outside the gates all this time?”

“Oh no, they will have gone to a town further up by the coast but they will be back here soon where I can join them again.” Illyara looked down and then straight into Lynsey’s eyes. “I am worried you will get lonely by yourself.”

Lynsey lowered her eyes to look at the pattern on the bedspread. It wouldn’t be right to keep Illyara away from her family and future.

“I’m never really alone now. Besides I like Luna too. She does annoy me sometimes but I think we can be friends. I just wish those two would either get together or not so I know when to avoid Arkan. “

“You think Luna and Arkan are sweethearts?”

“Yes, it’s a bit obvious. He’s always giving her doe-eyed looks.”

Illyara smiled. “I am pretty sure they are not doe-eyed looks!”

“I think…” Just then Megan and Tegan knocked on the door, bringing in their dresses for the night.

They arrived at the ball only twenty minutes after the time written on the invitation, much to Luna’s chagrin. She had huffed at that but Lynsey was still her guest so she acquiesced.

While the room was smaller than the other one, it was still elegant. There were light fixtures on the wall, but the Contee had chosen to use candles for their event instead of electric. The soft glow was a lot more flattering to the older ladies, Lynsey thought, but then given the age of the Contees – that was probably the plan.

Even though they were relatively early, there were a few men and women milling about the room. Lynsey sighed, she’d been right to come in earlier, she didn’t feel like such a specimen. People were still looking at her but they were also staring at their clothes not just her hair this time.

Luna looked gorgeous in a dark blue gown. The hemline trailed the floor and the neckline showed off her best asset. Illyara’s and Lynsey’s outfits were more demure but just as striking. Lynsey’s dress was again pink while Illyara’s was green. They both had long skirts but the cut accentuated their young bodies. The dresses were daring without revealing anything. “It is how I got my first husband, darling.” Luna had said. “Before you marry you need to tease – to draw the men to you. After your nuptials, you can do what you want.”

For two hours in their rooms Luna had gone over society’s niceties. You must never be alone with a man. You must be asked to dance. You should not fill your plate with food. A barb on Lynsey’s plate at the King’s feast.

“If you want to become part of society you will have to win over the other ladies. After all, what if one of them is married to the man who may ask you to be his wife?”

“Hang on, you can have more than one husband?”

“Hang on to what? No, a man may have two wives but a woman can only have one husband.”

“But your husband is only married to you?”

“I have the family and money that I can make sure he doesn’t look at another woman.”

Lynsey smiled to herself, there was more to Luna than family or money.

Lynsey pulled up a fan that hung from a belt around her waist. She flicked it open and vigorously pumped it to cool down her face. The room was getting full and the heat from the people and hundreds of candles was making it hot. Everyone seemed to be a little livelier than in the previous ball. People were smiling more and she noted the men felt free to touch the arms or shoulders of the women. A lull in the conversation around them made Lynsey look for the source.

“Why has everyone gone quiet?” She craned her neck to look around the room but she couldn’t see anything which would explain it.

“The king is coming!” A lady dressed next to them said in an over-loud whisper. “A footman saw his coach coming down the drive. The Contee have been trying to get him to come to one of their balls for years! They have finally made it. I’m hoping Arkan will be with him.”

“Why would the king suddenly decide to come?”

The girl looked at Lynsey with pity. “You of course. Everyone saw how he looked at you. He even danced with you.”

Illyara was talking with a matron further into the room. Lynsey made her way through the crowd to her.

“The king is coming.”

Illyara turned to her friend. “It’s okay he can’t harm you here. This lady was saying that Arkan will probably be coming as well.

“All we need is Baserius and we have a trifecta of my nemeses.”

“Don’t be silly, besides Arkan likes you.”

“He just doesn’t want me around.”

“Whatever gave you that idea?”

“I heard him!”

Illyara’s perplexed look made Lynsey doubt for a second but she had heard him herself.

“I need to go out for some air.”

The matron was taking it all in eagerly. You should use the balcony of the hallway on the second floor. There is a beautiful view from up there. “

“Thank you, I will.” Lynsey picked up her skirt and made her way past the crowd. The room seemed to get darker. Everyone was watching her, their beady eyes boring into her back. She hated being the only blond person. She stood out like a frickin, sore thumb. If she stayed here she would be stared at for her whole life and judging from what Pico said that would be forever. She wouldn’t be able to hide. Her hair would give her away. Lynsey paused on a step. How long before they would try to work out why she lived so long without aging?

The hallway on the second floor was lined with dark wood panels engraved with scenes from a past battle. She hardly gave them a glance until she saw a pyramid. She felt Pico’s interest flare in her consciousness.

“Can you see that?” Lynsey whispered.

“I can. The pictures seem to say that a dragon escaped from a pyramid. For all these people say they want to forget those that brought them here, they find ways of reminding themselves. The pyramid was in the Temple as well. That next painting shows that the Egyptians all had to leave. How much of this is myth?“

“I don’t know but this is fascinating.”

“It is indeed.” The voice was behind her but she knew from the goose pimples rising in her arms who it was.

“Arkan.”

“At your service.”

She could feel the heat from his body. She turned to find him inches from her. His fingertips grazed her arm sending shivers of pleasure through her. This wasn’t right. She looked into his eyes and found herself melting into his arms. He brought his lips down onto hers while she lost herself in the depths of his eyes. Some last shred of her sanity took hold. No! This was not going to happen. She wouldn’t share with anyone, not even with someone she liked and respected like Luna. She tore herself from his arms and ran, her shoes clattered down the narrow stairs. She looked back up but he wasn’t following, she twisted back to find herself bumping into a man standing at the foot of the stairs.

Lynsey bounced off the king to stand inches from him. Her breaths came in quick gasps and her cheeks were bright pink, almost matching her dress. He stepped forward and took a stray tendril of hair and gently placed it over her ear.

Lynsey froze at his touch. He was handsome but she disguised a shudder when his finger lowered to stroke her cheek. Why did the King’s hand disgust her when Arkan made her breathless? She almost didn’t hear the King’s next words.

“For you I would get rid of my wives.”

Her lips parted in horror. This man was a monster. She backed away and headed to the ballroom and relative safety. She looked back and he was still there, looking into space as if lost in a daydream.

Contents

Chapter 1 - Duat
Chapter 2 - London - Present Day
Chapter 3 – Lynsey on Duat
Chapter 4 - Nomads
Chapter 5 - Scorpion
Chapter 6 - The Dragon Temple
Chapter 7 - Assassin
Chapter 8 - The Luscious Luna
Chapter 9 - Arkan Blade
Chapter 10 - Kidnapped
Chapter 11 - Rescue
Chapter 12 - Modesty
Chapter 13 - Banquet
Chapter 14 - Arkan
Chapter 15 - Dancing with the King
Chapter 16 - Dragon Brotherhood
Chapter 17 - Pico
Chapter 18 – The Dragon

There are fates worse than death…

Welcome to the serialisation of Accidental Immortal. Chapters will be published four times a week so the serialisation will be completed at (roughly) the same time as on Wattpad, if not a little sooner!

If you would like to start from the beginning, please head over to chapter one. There is also a contents list at the bottom of each post.

–Ceri Clark

Chapter 18 – The Dragon

“Why was Arkan here!” His gaze seared into the two brothers standing in front of him, their heads hung low, hiding their expressions within their hoods. They knew there was nothing they could say that would alleviate his wrath.

“Did he get in the Temple?” Again no response from the brothers. “Did anyone see him inside?” he tried again.

Baserius let out some deep breaths, if it was not for the girl, this would be dangerous news. The only reason Arkan would be sniffing around the temple would be if the King ordered him to. If they could manage to get more gold and jewels then these silly games the King was playing would be irrelevant, He would be crushed easily and a replacement put in his place. It had been done before and so it would be done again. Finding the pyramids was a distant dream a few days ago, now it was a distinct possibility. His voice grew milder.

“There would be no way to tell I suppose. Were the guards on the stairs at all times?” Their shoulders relaxing, the brothers nodded their response.

“They saw nothing.” The nearest replied.

“At least that is something.” He moved away to stand in front of his desk. He reached inside his draw, pushing away scrolls and parchment until he located a golden key. He pulled it out, trailing a golden chain attached to it. He placed it around his neck and beckoned the others to follow him.

“Come, it is time for the ceremony. I grow tired,” he said as they exited the room.

They followed him, along the corridor and down some stairs to the basement entrance. Two brothers guarded another stairway. The guards were in effect a decoy from the true entrance to their right. If any spy managed to get past the guards all they would find were the temples food and wine stores.

Baserius bypassed them, not sparing the guards a glance and moved on a few feet to a place only an ordained brother could go. Behind a tapestry, a plain wooden door barred their way. Baserius placed the key in the lock and twisted it easily. On the other side was a featureless corridor and another door at the other side.

He strode along the terracotta tiles, his boots clicking a regular rhythm. The brothers followed closely at his heels. He knocked three times sharply and a further three times slowly. The door opened and an old man stood in the doorway. He gave a nod to Baserius and looked behind him to the two brothers who pushed back their hoods so he could recognize them. He turned a lamp on a table beside him to its full capacity. His grizzled features twisted into recognition and he moved aside to let them pass.

From the doorway, all they could hear was the sound of scraping metal against stone as the ceremonial knife was sharpened to a slow tempo. As the men moved further into the chamber, they could hear the murmur of hundreds of voices.

All three held their noses for a moment in the gloom. Experience had taught them it would take a while for their noses to adjust to the stench of defecation and blood that permeated the basement. The doorman smiled grimly at their discomfort.

“Has he been quiet?”

“Why do you always ask, Baserius? He has been quiet for a century. He is resigned to his fate. He is only a dumb creature after all. All animals will lie quiet with the right training.” The voice came from a figure drawing close. The same blood-red cowl from the robes that everyone wore hid the figure’s face. The voice was higher than normal but with the unmistaken tone of confidence and power.

Baserius paused in response while he studied the animal. It was indeed quiet. He had never seen it exhibit any other behaviour. It lay on a bed of hay. Its head low on its arms. Its talons were twisted underneath it as was its wings. The chains criss-crossing the beast were tied to its arms, tail and wings. They were taught and strong. Even if the dragon had the desire to move, it wouldn’t be able to move more than a foot. A painted red circle surrounded the dragon indicating where it was safe to go near.

“I have some news.” He finally replied.

“The king is trying to overthrow you. I know. It happens every two generations. You will have to make an example of him. It happened to your predecessor, it will happen to you. Why bother me with these banalities?”

“No, this is something new. But our coffers are getting low, it will be difficult to make an example when we have no army to do so or money to bribe.”

Around them, brethren were chanting quietly, moving with deliberation across the room in preordained patterns. The light from scented candles wavered in their hands as they breathed.

“You will have to redouble your efforts to find those pyramids. If we could bring enough treasure to fund two centuries of this Temple from what we could carry in our pockets. Think what you could do with a cartload.”

“That is related to what I need to tell you about.”

The hooded figure stayed silent, waiting for his explanation.

“A woman arrived in Ghinari, a few weeks ago. She came here with a nomad girl.” He took a breath, then coughed regretting inhaling so deeply. “They left before I could question them but they left an elephant ornament which could only have come from the pyramids. No craftsman on this world has the skill to make such an object.”

The old man who had let them in, twisted to look at them from his post. His eyes brightened. “She has to have come from there.”

“That is not all that is strange.” Baserius ignored the man. “She is blond so she cannot be from this world and she heals instantly.” All three looked in the direction of the beast.

“Interesting…”

Contents

Chapter 1 - Duat
Chapter 2 - London - Present Day
Chapter 3 – Lynsey on Duat
Chapter 4 - Nomads
Chapter 5 - Scorpion
Chapter 6 - The Dragon Temple
Chapter 7 - Assassin
Chapter 8 - The Luscious Luna
Chapter 9 - Arkan Blade
Chapter 10 - Kidnapped
Chapter 11 - Rescue
Chapter 12 - Modesty
Chapter 13 - Banquet
Chapter 14 - Arkan
Chapter 15 - Dancing with the King
Chapter 16 - Dragon Brotherhood
Chapter 17 - Pico

There are fates worse than death…

Welcome to the serialisation of Accidental Immortal. Chapters will be published four times a week so the serialisation will be completed at (roughly) the same time as on Wattpad, if not a little sooner!

If you would like to start from the beginning, please head over to chapter one. There is also a contents list at the bottom of each post.

–Ceri Clark

Chapter 17 – Pico

Lynsey floated in a sea of white nothing. She wasn’t afraid she realised. She pondered her hands as wisps of white fog entwined her fingers like fine cotton. There was nothing to be scared of, was there?

A few more minutes of swirling whiteness and she began to get bored. This place could really do with some colour she thought, and a mixture of pale and blue swirled around her making patterns in the air. It made her think of a rainbow and a burst of colours shot through, streaking the air, breaking up the swirls, leaving afterimages. The blues and greens turned into bubbles, floating into different directions. She wondered if she could pop them.

In the distance she heard her name and she languidly twisted her neck to see who was calling. It seemed so far away and it really wasn’t that important. Nothing was. It was so peaceful here. She watched as a purple bubble floated past her eyes making her momentarily cross-eyed.

The voice was getting louder and she could see a figure walking towards her. It was coming closer but still Lynsey didn’t feel nervous, just curious. Soon enough she could see the stranger’s face but she didn’t recognise her. The stranger was smiling and waved shyly as she drew up close.

“Hello Lynsey.”

“Hello?” She knew her name. Did she know her?

“I’m Pico.”

Lynsey looked closely at the woman. She was about her height, average build, she had brown curly hair, brown eyes and clear olive skin. There was nothing threatening about her.

“Where am I? How can I see you?”

“You are somewhere between dreaming and the awake state. It’s the only way we can possibly meet face-to-face. Do you like the way I look? I chose the attributes you most like to see in others from your memories.” Pico twirled on the invisible ground.

Lynsey didn’t quite know how to answer that. “You are a collection of Pico-somethings, why do you care what I think?”

Pico’s face fell. “I’m a person. I thought you knew that now. I have thoughts and feelings. They were developed from yours but I am my own person we just share a body. I haven’t said much for the past week because I had to sort through my feelings. I was born when you put on that bracelet. You chose to put it on no one forced you to. What you did created me. I’m entitled to think.”

“I didn’t know what would happen when I put on the bracelet.” Lynsey struggled to keep her attention on the conversation and not on the colourful display behind Pico.

“It doesn’t matter, I exist.” Pico’s voice was earnest. “Don’t you remember your philosophy classes? I think therefore I am? You created me. Your actions ended up with me. Me. I had nothing to do with it but now I am here I deserve to live.”

Fear dripped down Lynsey’s spine. Pico had her full attention now. “Are you going to take over?”

Anger turned to horror on Pico’s face. “Of course not! You are my mother. I would protect you with my life but I won’t give up that life willingly. But maybe, you could share your body once in a while? I’m not asking for whole days or anything, just maybe the occasional evening, maybe a morning?”

This was the most bizarre conversation that Lynsey thought she would ever have with anyone. She felt the bedrock of her world shifting. Not only had she found herself in a strange world. People were after her, a strange creature was living inside her and it now said she was her mother. This was too much! She almost didn’t hear what Pico said next.

“After all now that you are immortal, sharing some time here and there won’t really affect you.”

“I’m sorry, what?”

Pico backtracked. What had she said? “Didn’t I mention that? That was the other reason that I haven’t been around much. I was looking into some anomalies. You weren’t reacting the same as I was expecting during our walk in the desert and it wasn’t all me healing you. And then you had some cuts and bruising when they captured you in the park. Again, you healed quicker than humanly possible. I did some more investigating and my conclusion is that you are immortal.”

“Immortal? That’s ridiculous!”

“No, it isn’t. I’ve been thinking about it. When the Egyptians sent copies of themselves through the pyramids, they were alive when the energy fields hit them and their code was sent through to this world. I think when you came here, you died and a copy of you was sent here through a black hole with some extra information. What happened to you was ‘natural’ as opposed to what the astrologers, mathematicians and engineers designed. They wanted what you have but didn’t have the technology to replicate it. If it is even possible to duplicate that process. Every time you are injured, your body asserts its original DNA map. It is why you were so hungry at the banquet. You needed the calories to recover.”

“You are saying that I cannot die?”

“Well, technically you could die. If you jumped in a volcano, or you were vaporised then there would be no hope. Maybe if someone chopped of your head … but then you would probably come back from that. All your previous memories are saved in your code. I think that if you do come close to dying then you might reset to when you arrived in this world. You will lose all your experiences from the time you arrive until the time you ‘die’.”

That made Lynsey pause. “That would be awful, I would have no idea how I got here. I might have gone mad if I hadn’t met Illyara or had time to acclimatize before I met anyone. This world is too different.”

“It is okay, I have a plan. I have been creating a backup in the bracelet.” Pico beamed at her cleverness.

“You did what? All my memories are in the band?” She looked down to see the bracelet replicated on her arm,

“Why yes. Just think if some impossible misfortune were to fall on us and you were killed, someone in the future could upload you to a computer, like me!”

What sounded almost like a good idea was starting to sound like a awful one. “Pico, that’s terrible.”

“”Whyyyy issss….” Pico’s voice was slurring. Her image juddered.

“Pico?”

Pico couldn’t answer but her arm rose to say goodbye as her form moved away at an incredible pace.

************

Lynsey woke in confusion but managed to feign sleep while she heard Arkan talk with Luna. She didn’t feel like talking to anyone for a few minutes. Pico had better be quiet as well while she processed what she said. Immortal? She really was immortal but she might lose all her Duat memories? That would be like dying over and over again. It would be like, she searched for the word, like some sort of dementia.

“…not because I want her to stay but both those men are dangerous and they will do their utmost to capture her. Wherever she goes she will be in danger but here we can protect her – and us.”

Lynsey froze, Arkan didn’t want her to stay?

“You call this protecting?”

“illyara, this wasn’t our fault. This was neither the work of the King or Baserius. It was an accident.”

“She does seem to have a lot of those.”

“It is a good thing she has found some friends then isn’t it.”

Of all the nerve. She wasn’t accident prone and if it wasn’t for people after her she would have survived very well thank you very much!

She gave it a few more moments and then she groaned as she moved. Arkan stopped talking and moved his hand away from her hair. She sat up and noticed the carriage was nearing Luna’s house. Arkan was sitting in the corner of the carriage looking out of the window. Had she imagined his hand in her hair?

“I think I need a rest.” Lynsey said aloud.

“I think we all do. “ The Duchess replied.

Contents

Chapter 1 - Duat
Chapter 2 - London - Present Day
Chapter 3 – Lynsey on Duat
Chapter 4 - Nomads
Chapter 5 - Scorpion
Chapter 6 - The Dragon Temple
Chapter 7 - Assassin
Chapter 8 - The Luscious Luna
Chapter 9 - Arkan Blade
Chapter 10 - Kidnapped
Chapter 11 - Rescue
Chapter 12 - Modesty
Chapter 13 - Banquet
Chapter 14 - Arkan
Chapter 15 - Dancing with the King
Chapter 16 - Dragon Brotherhood

There are fates worse than death…

Welcome to the serialisation of Accidental Immortal. Chapters will be published four times a week so the serialisation will be completed at (roughly) the same time as on Wattpad, if not a little sooner!

If you would like to start from the beginning, please head over to chapter one. There is also a contents list at the bottom of each post.

–Ceri Clark

Chapter 16 – Dragon Brotherhood

Baserius put down his pen for the third time in ten minutes and rubbed his face in his hands. Taking up the pen again, he tapped a slow rhythm on the desk while he stared in to space in the direction of the window. He sighed and tried to make sense of the scroll in front of him but it was no use. The chair scraped across the wooden floor as he got up to stride across the floor to look out of the window.

The Brotherhood had built this city, maybe not with their hands but with their money and guidance. Now the money was running out but finally, on his watch, they might just get to the wealth that was rightfully theirs.

He surveyed the room at the threadbare furniture. The small amount of jewels the Brotherhood had come away with was nearly gone. They could barely afford to keep up appearance never mind keep the upstart king in check. The man was getting above himself. If the Brotherhood wanted the status that they’d lost, no, that they deserved, then they needed funds. Money to feed the brethren and money to recruit an army to put the king in his place.

He dropped down on to a leather seat by the window. The gentle breeze brought in a strong smell of sage mixed in with fruit trees. He breathed in deeply finding the combination calming. From here he could see right to the palace. In fact, the temple was higher than the King’s residence. This was a statement on where the real power lay in the land he thought with satisfaction. He would not be known as the high priest that ceded control.

There was also the oddity of the girl. Blond people just did not exist. His head rose slowly in realisation. Just like dragons didn’t exist. Maybe they were from the same place? If they were from the same origin, maybe they were akin in other ways. Would she have similar abilities? They were limited to how much elixir they could make with what they had. With more, who knows what they could achieve.

As he watched the street through the window he saw the red carriage belonging to the Duchess trundle around the corner. He leaned forward for a better look as they passed beneath the window. Three ladies alighted to Baserius’ displeasure. His lips thinned as he saw them group together on the ground. A footman dropped from atop the carriage, carrying their personal effects. How many was he going to have to entertain? Baserius ground his teeth. It was foolhardy to think the girl would come on her own. He expected her companion to come, but why the Duchess? This would take all his training and tact.

******
Lynsey took her purse from the footman. It was light containing only a few coins and a handkerchief. She thought it was stupid when she had to hand it to the footman before the carriage only to get it back at the other end but Luna was strict on protocol.

“One does not carry objects unless for effect or when strictly necessary.” She’d said. The woman was starting to get on Lynsey’s nerves.

Lynsey smiled at the servant and thanked him with a curtsey. Her skirt grazed the deep-packed mud street and she ruefully shook off the loose dust that gathered on the hem. The footman nodded and silently climbed back up to his place next to the coachman, driving off to come back at the appointed time. Luna let out an exasperated sigh.

“One does not courtesy to a footman or any other servant for that matter.” She reprimanded.

Lynsey rolled her eyes and ignored her, breezing past her to knock on the door. A brother she hadn’t seen before, slid open the hatch and immediately pulled the bolts to let them in. He motioned for them to follow him and his arms dropped to fold inside the sleeves of his deep-red robes as he led the way. His pace was quick and he ushered them across the hall and straight through to the high priests’ office.

“Ladies, it is lovely to see you. I wasn’t quite expecting so many of you or I would have provided more cups.” Baserius rose from the window seat to ring a bell. He indicated for them to sit on two plain chairs made of a soft wood brought in especially for them.

Lynsey glanced at Illyara. “Shall we stand, I think their counting has a little too be desired.”
“Well a Duchess never stands if she doesn’t need to.” Luna sat down, crossing her ankles while placing her purse on her lap.

Within moments a man wearing the customary crimson robes entered.

“Please could you get another cup for our guests?” Baserius’ voice was genial, coming from behind them.
“and a chair of course.”
He waved his hands at his guests. The brother slipped out of the room as he continued. “I thought we could have a small chat before we got started.” Their startled faces made his mood lighten. “I understand that you grew up in the western isles. One of our brothers has recently travelled back from there. I’m sure you will have a lot to talk about. I hear the weather is inclement there.”

“To be honest, I would rather forget about that place. The boredom of rural life is best left in the past. I want to enjoy a life with more diversions. I love my father but his dedication to the provinces is not mine. I’m happy just to be in the big city.” Lynsey retorted, beaming her biggest smile.

He nodded. “The charms of the provinces can be quite alluring but I can see the excitement of the big city is more in keeping with youth. Come,” He stood and indicated the door. “let us begin the tour while we wait for the extra cup.”

The tour of the upper levels went quite quickly. Baserius was knowledgeable of every facet of its construction. As he talked about flying buttresses, and carvings of dragons which glowered down from above at regular intervals, Lynsey’s mind inevitably wondered to Arkan. Where was he? Was he safe? Her eyes searched the shadows for him as they moved from room to room. Was he even here yet? If he was in trouble she could help him. She hated being the decoy.

“…and here is a picture of the pyramids. It was painted when the temple was first built. There are many who do not believe they existed but how else did we come to this place?” He pointed at a mural that sat behind long trestle tables, beside a lone brother eating a meal of green vegetables. He paused waiting for Lynsey to respond.

“He wants me to tell him about the pyramids.” She directed at Pico.

“It would appear so. I do not think that would be a wise idea.”

“I seem to be agreeing with you more and more.”

“I will grow on you.”

“Yeah, like moss.”

Pico’s thoughts rolled in violet as he laughed.

Baserius was now talking about the windows and it took all Lynsey’s strength to not roll her eyes at the tedium.

“Excuse me, may I use your bathroom.”

He halted mid-step and turned to look at her.

“Bathroom?” His brows furrowed. “You want to have a bath?”

“I’m sorry where I am from, the bathroom was used as a euphemism for the toilet.”

“Oh, we can’t allow you to use our facilities here. It would not be seemly. We do not have a separate place for women. We are a male only order. May I suggest the inn across the road?”

“That will be fine. I’ll just pop along and be back long before you even notice I’m gone.”

Lynsey’s thoughts raced, if she was fast she could buy a few minutes so she could do some snooping of her own. She sedately walked out of the room and rushed through to the front entrance.

The doorman was sat on a bare wooden bench next to the entrance. He groaned as he stood up but let her out without looking at her.

Her eyes burned from the bright sun and she raised her hand to cover them as she stepped out from the entrance. She squinted as she descended the steep, sand-stone steps. At the foot she paused, the path was practically non-existent, barely a person’s width. She shrugged and walked closely beside it, avoiding pools of excrement on the dirt.

Shading her eyes with her purse, there was a use for the infernal thing after all, she looked for the inn. A prominent sign down the street declared its owner to be the Dragon Inn. That must be it. Original, she thought, not without a touch of sarcasm.

The traffic was quite light, only a carriage or two passing through with a few lunchtime sellers going home with empty hand-carts. Out of habit, she gave the road a cursory look from left to right before crossing. The inn looked less than inviting. The sort of that would make a great setting for a horror movie she mused. Pico sent her an image with ghouls hanging out of the windows and lightning reigning down from above. She snorted as it faded away.

Her foot squished into the biggest pile of horse manure she had ever seen, oh for god’s sake! As she lifted her foot with disgust, she heard a whinny and she turned to see a horse gallop around the corner towards her. It was pulling an individual carriage and was out of control. Her heart beat faster and she felt Pico take control but it was too late. The horse hit her sending her flying through the air.

******
Baserius was finding it difficult to keep the show going while continuing the tour without the girl. The whole point of the tour was to quiz her about the location of the pyramids and she’d left him with her companions. Granted, they seemed to hang on his every word which was some comfort but there were more important things he could be doing with his time than babysit a couple of females.

“While we are waiting for Miss Walker, shall we retire back to my office for a cup of tea?”

Before they could answer, Brother Leer ran across the foyer towards them. Baserius felt a twinge of relief at the distraction but Brother Leer’s expression gave him pause. His lips were set in a line and his ambling gait was faster than normal. Something was wrong, he noted with mild curiosity.

The Brother indicated for them to follow him back to the front entrance. Baserius bristled at the command but recognized that whatever had happened Brother Leer could still not break his silence in front of his guests.

As they neared the door they started to hear shouts from outside. The nomad girl was the first to run through the door and Luna was blocking his view so he was the last to see Lynsey on the ground. It took a second to register the scene. What was most surprising was to see Arkan Blade beside her. What was he doing here?

His contemplation turned to disbelief then pleasure when he saw a gash on the girl’s arm heal up before Illyara moved between him and her. Lynsey was like the dragon! If she could heal up instantaneously was she also immortal? He had to find out. He coughed to clear his throat.

“This is beyond protocol but may I offer sanctuary in our Temple until the Lady Lynsey is well enough to travel?”

Arkan stared down at Lynsey’s battered face. As he watched, abrasions and cuts began to heal, her fingers in his straightened and her eyelashes started to flutter. Gods she was beautiful. Fear warred with feelings he couldn’t identify. No one healed that fast but she was the same girl he had rescued the night before. Was it the bracelet? He rubbed her wrists with his thumb and forefinger but could only feel silken skin. Where was it? If she wasn’t wearing it, then how was she healing like that? There was more to her than she was telling him.

In his arms, she groaned and put her hand up to her forehead wincing.

“What happened?” She whispered. The she looked at him. “You’re here?”

He laughed. “Yes, I’m here. You had an accident.”

She grimaced again and sat upright. He let his hands drop to his side.

“Can you get up? It’s not safe on the street.”

She nodded and with his help, she made it to the curb. She brushed her hair back from her face so it fell over the high collar of her yellow dress. While the colour suited her, he couldn’t but think it was a poor choice for visiting. Luna would have warned her it would get dirty on the dusty streets, but, he thought with fondness, this was a lady who knew what she wanted.

He shouldn’t get involved with her, he reminded himself, but she felt so fragile in his arms. He felt an overarching need to protect her. He shouted to Luna to call for her carriage but he could see it was already making its way towards them. He lifted Lynsey easily into his arms and carried her into the carriage where Illyara was waiting. He heard Luna thank Baserius but that she had it all in hand.

Lynsey sank back in a faint again but it gave Arkan a chance to talk to Luna. Illyara was tactfully looking out of the window.

“Baserius noticed her healing?”

“I saw. That was not normal.” Her eyes accused him. “What have you got me involved with Arkan?”

“She is an innocent. We have to protect her.”

“She doesn’t look like she needs much protecting from what I saw.”

“She is not from here.”

“Clearly,”

Arkan tried again. “Do you not like her? You have spent a lot of time with her over the last few days. She does not mean any harm and simply wanted to find help.” He tried to divine what she was thinking from her expression but she was giving nothing away. After a moment she replied.

“We have no choice but to protect her now. She has been publicly announced as part of my family. My reputation would be damaged if her ability and our deception was to get out. This was just a game when you approached me Arkan. I have worked too hard in society to let that happen now.” Her voice trailed off as she watched buildings go past through the open curtains of the window. “This will be hard to contain.”

Arkan agreed. “There was something about the way he looked at her.”

“A spider looking at a fly?” She suggested sadly.

“Something like that. I think we not only have the King to worry about but also Baserius.”

“It would seem so.”

Illyara chimed in. “Would it be better for us to go somewhere else? Lynsey wanted to come to remove a bracelet but she has made peace with it now and is happy to keep it. There is no reason for us to stay in this city any longer. I don’t know why she agreed to see the Temple or why she wants to stay.”

“What bracelet?” Luna asked.

Illyara eyes widened as she realised her mistake. “Oh, she has removed it on her own now.”

Seeing no bracelet on the sleeping girl’s arm, Luna acquiesced.

“I think you should stay. Not because I want her to stay but both those men are dangerous and they will do their utmost to capture her. Wherever she goes she will be in danger but here we can protect her – and us.”

“You call this protecting?”

“Illyara, this wasn’t our fault. This was neither the work of the King or Baserius. It was an accident.”

“She does seem to have a lot of those.”

“It is a good thing she has found some friends then isn’t it?”

Contents

Chapter 1 - Duat
Chapter 2 - London - Present Day
Chapter 3 – Lynsey on Duat
Chapter 4 - Nomads
Chapter 5 - Scorpion
Chapter 6 - The Dragon Temple
Chapter 7 - Assassin
Chapter 8 - The Luscious Luna
Chapter 9 - Arkan Blade
Chapter 10 - Kidnapped
Chapter 11 - Rescue
Chapter 12 - Modesty
Chapter 13 - Banquet
Chapter 14 - Arkan
Chapter 15 - Dancing with the King